[RK] Science & Technology

[Mr Darke]

  The technology level of the world is higher than that of most standard fantasy worlds. While it does not attempt to recreate the technology of the day, there are things that would be familiar to a traveler from Earth. Technology is divided between mundane or mechanical and magical with some blending of the two. As for the magical tech the assumption is that lower level magic is common with higher level magic being rare. If this sounds familiar, it was borrowed from the Eberron setting which was used as an inspiration for this.

   Mundane tech follows the standard progression of Earth through the Classic to late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Quick research on these periods will show that things like medical practices, construction and day to day life was much more advanced than we realized. Concrete was used, as were cranes and there were mining techniques that are the basis for modern day practices. Rudimentary steam experiments were underway, central heating and some plumbing were also used. A natural evolution of this mixed with innovations of races like the dwarves would place these as a bit higher level. Printing presses are now common and movable type has been in use for years.

   Magical tech is an extension of the above idea of magic. Practices such as alchemy, artificing and magical infusions to items are now underway. The biggest advance came with the discovery of what was called Phaedric Ore. It is believed that the ore is left over material from the creation of the world and holds magic in its most raw form. This ore was found to be able to power certain machines, be used in infusions and more properties are being discovered. The most successful use of the ore was with the revolution of the airship.

  In the past the airship was expensive, unreliable and used hot air to stay afloat. The used of the ore did away with the need for this and the engines used became cheaper and easier to build. However these ships do require maintenance and special docks to land it. This does make them the realm of successful trading companies and richer kingdoms. While not entirely common it is possible to see ships fly over farmlands and remote areas.

   While this is just an overview I plan on adding in specific technologies of both mechanical and magical and give prices as well as construction information.

[Admin Pete]

I am really looking forward to seeing this expanded on!

[Necromancer]

Apr 5, 2015 21:03:25 GMT -5 Admin Pete said:

I am really looking forward to seeing this expanded on!

I agree. Interesting stuff!

[Mr Darke]

Thanks for the encouragement! It really helps to drive on writing this when I know people are interested.  With that let's continue. . .


For this part I will look at some of the common and overlooked things that are in the world. While not very exciting or wondrous these things do help shape the flavor.


Medicinal Items

 Going to a typical apothecary or drugstore will show things that we would recognize in one form or another. Things like stomach tonics, burn creams and ointments would be available for purchase. As well you would have cold and flu remedies, birth control items, various types of make-ups, perfumes and colognes. You would also have various charms to ward against diseases, illness and bad luck. Some of this would be legitimate goods while a fair portion would also be dubious in origin and quality. For every good apothecary or alchemist there is usually two or more snake-oil men working.


Clothing

With the advent of materials similar to canvas, chambray and denim fashion has changed some. While traditional materials are still used, the working and farming classes have embraced the cheaper and more durable materials for day to day life. Advances in production and weaving has opened up a new market for styles and fashion is becoming more personal in nature. The nobility has begun moving away from flamboyant dress into more streamlined and conservative styles with the former styles only appearing at special occasions. Adventurers have begun adopting various styles due to their travels and this has begun to seep into everyday life with groups of trendsetters experimenting in ideas.

However the most common dress is still the denim pants (usually multi-pocketed for work), leather boots and stiff shirts of the working classes. This has become somewhat of a fashion of its own among younger nobles and the elite to show that they are just like everyone else. As is usual, none of the working classes buy it.


Home

Thanks to both the learning from the dwarves and gnomes luxuries such as plumbing, silverware, ceramic dishes and even clocks are becoming more common. Most homes have at least two sets of dishes with silverware, cold running water and one clock. Some have even been able to buy lighting crystals and phaedric powered cookstoves. With these things becoming more common and cheaper the average home is now much more comfortable than it was a few years ago.


Education

Education is also on the rise with most of the populace being literate. The average education level in most cities is between 6th and 8th grade but is slowly on the rise. Of course the elite and nobility rank higher and specialists such as doctors, machinists and some craftsman have higher but more specialized knowledge. The rise in education comes from a recognition that ignorance is a 'sin' and that one should learn all they can. This opened the door for many nobles and churches to found schools to teach the populace.

Other

Within all of this there are many other things that we would not have time to touch on. Day to day life has many things such as printed posters and advertisements. Broadsheets, plays and books are being read. Experiments with clockwork items have produced toys and machines that are helping with life in general. The new class of merchant nobles and workers have now formed and have begun to break the structure of the old nobility. While there has not been an industrial revolution as we would see it the world is changing.

However this change is mainly in the cities. Outlying areas are still wild and untamed. Monsters still roam the lands and some see the cities as place to be exploited. While the world is changing the old conflicts do still remain.

[Necromancer]

Interesting, Mr Darke. The higher technology level certainly adds originality and flavour to your campaign setting. Cool!

[Mr Darke]

Thanks. I am going to change the name of this thread up a bit and combine it with the world's science level as well.

[Mr Darke]

Science

 Along with the higher technology level, there is a higher understanding of science. The difference between our world and the campaign world is that term science means much more than we would thing. Magic, spirituality and understanding of the physical world are all parts of the science of the world. Thus you have things like Astrology and Astronomy working together and scientific principles taking metaphysical laws into account. This has led to a unique aspect of the world where many branches of knowledge are melded together.

  Of course this in plainly evident when you see airships flying, magical lighting and clockwork devices but, there are also subtleties that many take for granted. Almanacs are corrected upon new astronomical findings with astrology tables being corrected along with them. As new magical concepts are found this changes the realm of physics as they are understood with wizards, universities and sages sometimes playing catch-up with new findings.

  Another thing that differentiates from our world is that science and industry works hand-in-hand with the natural world. Industries and those sages who help drive it take the effects of their findings on the world into account. Strict rules govern where industrial sights can be built, how much phaedric ore can be used or mined and the use of higher level magic. Of course, these rules are regularly broken, ideas stolen and illegal exploits made. This has led to groups of adventurers who carry out commands that either skirt the law or to put those who do out of business.


  As all of this advances the world will most definitely change. Effects of this new era are not fully known and some have cited certain rises in monsters and planar bleeds as evidence that overuse of magic and magical devices will hurt rather than help.